Sustainability Decision Making Strategies: Palm Oil Management

Abstract

This paper presents a new and integrated decision making approach for firms to utilize when facing a complex sustainability issue using palm oil as a case study. The approach, Sustainability Decision Making Protocol, includes five steps: mind mapping, stakeholder analysis, tradeoffs analysis, systems dynamics and analyses with decision trees. The steps are not implemented in a linear way, but as an iterative process. Outcomes from the different steps can be used help improve the implementation of others. Using the tools in this way also provides an opportunity for greater collaboration and communication among stakeholders. A decision is not developed for a specific client, as there are a multitude of variables that are unique to each company. Rather, this paper provides background and a protocol that can be used to inform sustainability strategy development around this agricultural commodity.